Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao’s servants in prison: the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is forgotten.
40:1. After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler, the other chief baker,)
40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner.
40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
40:5. And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the interpretation agreeing to themselves:
40:6. And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them sad,
40:7. He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?
40:8. They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed:
40:9. The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
40:10. On which were three branches, which by little and little sent out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes:
40:11. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.
40:12. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches, are yet three days:
40:13. After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according to thy office, as before thou was wont to do.
40:14. Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison:
40:15. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here without any fault was cast into the dungeon.
40:16. The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my head:
40:17. And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.
40:18. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three baskets, are yet three days:
40:19. After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh.
40:20. The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker.
40:21. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup:
40:22. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.
40:23. But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.
